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Public Knowledge Center > Identity Theft |
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A Darker Side of Identity Theft: Global Terrorism
There is also an even darker side to Identity Theft, because the crime is very appealing to international terrorist organizations.
For example, in the ensuing law enforcement investigations after the September 11th terrorist attacks, it was determined that the attacks were funded in large part through fraudulently obtained credit cards, and nine of the terrorist operatives reportedly entered the United States using falsified visas and stolen or fraudulent identities.
On September 29, 2001, a Washington Post article reported that a man held in Great Britain, suspected of training four of the terrorists who hijacked the airliners on September 11, used the Social Security number of a New Jersey woman who died in 1991.
With increased border security and international efforts to identify and locate known and suspected terrorist operatives, stolen identities also provide terrorists with potential opportunities to travel and enter the U.S. and other countries undetected. By traveling under false and stolen identities, terrorists can avoid detection by "No-Fly" lists that are comprised only of known names and aliases.
“Al Qaeda and its operatives are increasingly turning to counterfeiting and credit card fraud for funds as the war on terrorism squeezes their traditional sources of finance...” - Riyadh Daily 09/25/03
In addition to offering a convenient means of concealing their movement and activities, Identity Theft and credit card fraud also provide terrorist organizations with ample sources of funding for their operations, despite the crackdown by the world's financial institutions in the war on terrorism. When an innocent consumer is falsely identified as a suspected terrorist or person of interest and included on "No-Fly" and Watch lists; or, when it is discovered that financial accounts in his or her name and have been used to help fund terrorist activities, the "war on terror" suddenly becomes a very stark and unnerving reality.
©Copyright 2008 by Michael Barnett. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use, copying, or distribution without permission is prohibited.
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